Tollways roll out program for Holy Week travelers
The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) is prepared for the Holy Week travelers with the implementation of its "Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko" (SMSK), the company’s annual motorist assistance program.
The SMSK will start on April 17, Holy Wednesday, until April 22, the period with heaviest volume of motorists moving out of the cities and back.
The MPTC is the holding company of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX).
NLEX Corporation president and general manager Luigi Bautista said they are expecting a 10 to 15 percent surge in traffic specifically along NLEX as influx of passengers traveling to provinces during the Lenten Season is expected.
According to Bautista, NLEX alone has 250,000 average daily vehicle entries in a normal day.
"Last year, mayroong isang araw, [Holy] Wednesday, na-hit namin ang 330,000 vehicle entries. That's more than 15 percent. So, sa NLEX, we are in fact ready to accommodate up to 15 percent [traffic surge]," he said.
Meanwhile, CAVITEX Infrastructure Corporation president and general manager Roberto Bontia said that the volume of vehicles in the toll road is usually high during Holy Wednesday by 20 percent compared to the average 150,000 to 160,000 vehicles a day.
Bontia said vehicles passing through CAVITEX are expected to spike to 170,000 to 175,000 on Holy Wednesday
"Yung [Holy] Wednesday traffic, yun 'yung nag-uuwian sila ng probinsya. It is higher by almost 20 percent. But for the rest of the Holy Week mas mababa siya sa daily traffic," he added.
To prepare for the anticipated increase in volume of vehicles this Holy Week, NLEX Corp. vice president for technology Glenn Campos said around 700 tellers and patrol officers will be deployed at the NLEX-SCTEX.
Beginning Holy Monday, April 15, to April 22, the traffic management teams on the two expressways will also be extending its working hours to closely monitor and manage the expected high volume of vehicles in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Tarlac, San Miguel, and Tipo toll plazas.
Motorists can view the real-time traffic situation at the NLEX-SCTEX through Facebook Live on the NLEX Corporation Facebook page from April 17, 6 a.m., to April 22 6 p.m.
On the peak hours of April 17 to 22, the said toll plazas will increase toll collection points by as much as 50 percent. Portabooths and portable toll collection equipment will also be opened to lessen motorists' waiting time at toll plazas.
During the same period, CAVITEX will deploy more traffic patrol officers and security personnel to manage the traffic and assist motorists, while additional tellers will be on standby to facilitate faster toll transactions.
Campos also said that the MPTC will set up motorist camps which will provide free calls, Wi-Fi, drinking water, basic mechanic services and first aid treatment.
A 24-hour free towing services will also be provided for Class 1 vehicles from April 17, 6 a.m., to April 22, 6 a.m.